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“Then we keep it simple, stick to the facts,” I tell him. “There was a fire. They evacuated everyone. It couldn’t be contained.”
“Okay.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “If I would have known sooner that—”
He shakes his head. “You didn’t do it.”
“I instigated it,” I correct. “I should have been prepared for more than just a counter-attack from Estrada. I knew Juan was coming after me, and I should have been ready.”
“What did you do?”
I purse my lips. “Did you hear about the fire in the warehouse district?”
“Uhm, yeah,” he drawls. “Kane wouldn’t shut up about it, and it’s still all over social media and the news... They were talking about it when I went to have my hair cut last week.”
“I did that.”
“How?” he asks quickly. “Why?”
“Pipe bombs and skin auctions.” I shrug. “That was Estrada, though. Everything I do instigates Juan, so just take your pick.”
Ezra chuckles, though it sounds disbelieving. “The death toll reached into the eighties.”
I hum, trying to not appear too disappointed. “I was aiming for all of them, but I’ll take what I can get. Beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“There’s nothing to say if you’ve never been to an auction.” I shake my head, dismissing the topic until I have more time to figure out the Estrada situation. “Please, tell me you have liquor. I need—”
“Another shower,” he cuts in. “We smell like smoke, and you have blood on you.”
“I was going to say a drink, but that too.”
He nods toward the front door, and we exit his car. The walk across the small courtyard area is a little gloomy... Or maybe I’m projecting my emotions onto him.
Everything feels like it’s a twisted mess that gets worse each day. I don’t have a clue where to pull to unravel the knot, but I can start loosening the pieces until I find the end.
It was beyond time to move to another location. Lory and I knew this. But moving into another temporary house won’t solve anything.
We need the compound.
And in order to get there... I need to take my dad’s advice and stop sitting idle while I watch Juan. It’s time to clear the property.
If I want to be the top hunter in this city, I have to kill the wolves. The rabbits will fall in line, either showing loyalty to me or Estrada. When that happens, I’ll deal with the rogues.
Rabbits populate quickly, after all.
Ezra pauses, his hand hovering over the keypad attached to their doorknob. “Why are you mumbling about rabbits?”
“I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“What about them, though?”
I contemplate the cost of the truth, but ultimately decide I’m just sick of all the lies. “My dad refers to the foot soldiers as rabbits when we talk.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s always someone listening.”
